Tatarstan President meets President of the biggest Chinese tour operator

On October 6, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov met President of Chinese tour operator CITS Madam Yu Ningning, who is visiting Kazan within the framework of her tour around Russian cities for establishing cooperation in the sphere of tourism.

Addressing Madam Yu Ningning, Rustam Minnikhanov said that Tatarstan is interested in cooperation with the biggest Chinese tour operator. He told that the republic has a very rich tourism potential, there are many tourist attractions and important sport, political, and cultural events are held in Tatarstan.

Minnikhanov said that 1.7 million tourists visited Tatarstan in 2013, as the Universiade held in Kazan that year gave new impetus to development of tourism. He also told that the republic approved its tourism development programme till 2020.

The President noted that cooperation between Tatarstan and China is developing. Only this year Tatarstan delegation has visited China twice, and Chinese delegations often visit Tatarstan.

“We would like to develop our cooperation in the sphere of tourism. The document we will sign today will be the next step in this area,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

Madam Yu Ningning, in her turn, told about the company and said that 3.23 million customers used company’s services last year.

“Russia-China relations are experiencing revival now, and we are interested in developing cooperation in the sphere of tourism. Considering current circumstances, most Chinese tourists visit Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, we are going to extend our geographic reach,” Madam Yu Ningning said.

Agreement on cooperation between CITS and Tatarstan State Committee on Tourism was signed at the end of the meeting.